Chapter 372 Lisa: Ava's Camp

LISA

After miles of walking, the sun is pretty high in the sky.

I'm too exhausted to shove back layers to take a peek at my watch, plus I really don't want to know what time it is. If it's too early, I'll know we're still ages from seeing Ava. If it's too late, I'll be even more exhausted knowing how long we've been trudging through the snow.

Better to just keep going as my lungs burn and my whole body aches. I really thought I was ready for this, but I'm not in as good of shape as I'd thought.

Kellan's doubtful stare when I asked to come along is really making sense.

"Don't worry." Mira's friendly voice tells me she's back. Sometimes she roams ahead, helping break trail. "We aren't far now."

Thank. Fucking. God.

Mira points at a thin line of grey against the pale winter sky. "See that smoke? That's their camp."

My shoulders sag with relief as I stare at the back of Kellan's head. His broad shoulders haven't slowed once during our trek, and here I am ready to collapse. "Have I slowed you all down?"

"Not at all." Mira's smile warms her words. "We don't always scout in wolf form, you know."

"Why not?" It hadn't occurred to me that they would do that, but now that she's mentioned it—well, why wouldn't they? "Wouldn't it be easier?"

"Things are different when we're shifted. We

"Different how?"

Instincts take over. Pack bonds grow stronger, but complex reasoning becomes harder. Plus, clothes are a pain to deal with. No one

glance at Kellan's back. His

in harsh pants that crystallize in front of my face. The rising sun does nothing to warm me, though its rays paint the endless white landscape in

of cooking meat makes my mouth water. The promise of warmth and food urges me forward those last few steps

across the snow as

slams into me with the force of a furry semi, knocking me flat on my back. Her tongue assaults my face with

laugh, trying to shield my face

hauling me back to my feet. Snow clings to my clothes, but I don't care as I stumble forward to

doing all the way out

you." I pull back, noting the rosy flush in her cheeks. She looks better than I do after a night in the wild. "Heard you've

Vanessa shoves this meal down my throat,

heads bent together as they discuss whatever

I heard you caught a

men caught a moose. I'm just going to help eat it. Want some

her arm through mine, leading me toward the tent. The smell of herbs and meat grows

Vanessa methodically packs supplies into neat bundles, barely sparing us a

Most tents I've ever seen camping are small. Not the kind

bad, but Greg

bag. My muscles protest the movement—I'll definitely feel this trek tomorrow. But it was worth it.

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